Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-01-15

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Restoration and showcasing of Thessaloniki's Byzantine Walls

[02] ASE opening: Rise

[01] Restoration and showcasing of Thessaloniki's Byzantine Walls

The City Walls were erected during the time of Theodosius the Great to guard the city from present-day Democracy Square across the historic Eptapyrgio street up to the site later occupied by the White Tower, a work of the architect Sinan (first half of 16th century).

The municipality of Thessaloniki is conducting a restoration and excavation project aimed at further uncovering and showcasing the ancient metropolis' medieval walls.

The project includes the demolition of 18 of the 20th-century unlicensed buildings erected along the Walls, which are at risk of collapse. There are 34 such structures, which are old refugee homes, in total, and after a feasibility study the municipality decided to preserve the other 16 buildings in memory of the old refugee neighborhood of the Ano Poli (Upper City).

The relevant study provides for the creation of a network of 'paths' to enable visitors to walk along the Walls, while rest areas and playgrounds will also be created, and the Walls will be lighted with floodlights.

Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, was founded in the fourth century BC by King Cassander of Macedon on or near the site of the ancient settlement of Therma in honor of his wife, Thessalonike, a Macedon princess, daughter of Philip II of Macedon and half-sister of Alexander the Great. The name, in Greek, means "victory over the Thessalians". Alexander's half-sister Thessalonike was so named because she was born on the day of the Macedonian victory at the Battle of Crocus Field (also known as the Battle of Volos) between Philip II of Macedon and Onomarchus of Phocis (today's Fokida prefecture in the Thessaly plain) in 352 BC.

[02] ASE opening: Rise

The biggest gains were in Oil and Gas, up 2.24 percent and Commerce, up 1.70 percent.

The biggest losses were in Telecoms, down 1.03 percent and Travel and Recreation, down 0.97 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 0.84 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 0.12 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.38 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 46 were up, 22 were down, and 35 were unchanged.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article